Press releases 2007

Local centre for young people supports Safer Internet Day

6th February 2007

Internet Safety Day has been marked worldwide today.  This, the fourth annual event, is used to raise the profile of campaigns to make the internet safe for children and young people to use.

The Junction Information and Advice Centre in Andover is one such project, providing amongst its services an Internet Café and giving young people safe access to the web.  The centre is open Monday to Friday and encourages young people to use its facilities for both educational and leisure use.  Also available at The Junction is access to a variety of activity groups and advice surgeries including those run by Hampshire Youth Service, Test Valley Borough Council, Andover Family Learning and the Youth Offending Team.

Centre Manager, Dave Millward says “We are here to provide young people in Andover and Test Valley with a place where they can find advice and information in a relaxed and non-judgemental environment.  We aim to build their self-esteem, knowledge and life skills, so that they have the ability to make well-informed, appropriate choices in their lives.”

“A big part of that fact finding process can be done on the internet.  Having the web available to them is a great resource for searching for jobs, health information, housing vacancies and lots more.  The Internet Café we have here gives them this access which may not otherwise be available to them.  We have a policy of making the internet as safe as possible for our centre users, and have secure software to block sites which are unsuitable.”

Anyone wanting to find out more information about The Junction should visit the centre’s website www.hants.gov.uk/testvalleyfoyer, email thejunction@alabare.co.uk or call 01264 369694.

The Junction is part of Alabaré Christian Care Centres, and run in partnership with Test Valley Borough Council and Sarsen Community Housing Association.

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For more information please contact Claire Sime on 01722 322882.

Notes to Editors

Alabaré Christian Care Centres is a regional charity, providing a range of services including supported housing, floating support services, drop-in centres, information, advice and training services and a registered care home.  The charity works with the homeless, ex-offenders, young people, individuals with a learning difficulty, vulnerable women and people with drug and alcohol problems, aiming to assist them with realising their potential and becoming valued members of society.

The Junction provides a safe space and information and advice service for young people ages 13-25 living in the Test Valley area.  The service is delivered in partnership with Hampshire County Youth Service and addresses the individual needs of young people, either by providing information directly on a range of issues including housing, education, employment, health and relationships, or by signposting clients to the appropriate specialist services. 

To find out more about Alabaré Christian Care Centres visit our website at www.alabare.co.uk